Secure Package Delivery Assembly

ABSTRACT

A secure parcel delivery assembly for securing parcels upon delivery includes a shell. A divider plate is hingedly engaged to the shell and defines upper and lower compartments within the shell, which are accessible via an upper and lower openings, respectively. First and second doors close the upper and lower openings, respectively. The first door is hingedly engaged to the divider plate so it only is hingable when the first door is closed. A parcel inserted into the upper compartment causes the divider plate to hinge upon closing of the first door so that the parcel drops to the lower compartment. The parcel is accessible via the lower opening. Wirelessly actuatable door locks secure the first and second doors to the shell, allowing a user to wirelessly actuate and deactuate the door locks to secure and to retrieve the parcel, respectively.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to parcel delivery assemblies and more particularly pertains to a new parcel delivery assembly for securing parcels upon delivery. The present invention discloses a parcel delivery assembly comprising a shell with a slot for receiving mail in a first compartment and a first door, which opens to second compartment for receiving a parcel. The first door is operationally engaged to a plate, which hinges open upon closing of the first door to drop the parcel into a third compartment, which is accessible by a second door. Electronic locks, which can be unlocked using a wireless signal or a key, secure the first and second doors

(2) Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to parcel delivery assemblies. Prior art parcel delivery assemblies may comprise assemblies with internal chutes, electronic locks, and the like. What is lacking in the prior art is a parcel delivery assembly comprising a shell with a slot for receiving mail in a first compartment and a first door, which opens to second compartment for receiving a parcel. The first door is operationally engaged to a plate, which hinges open upon closing of the first door to drop the parcel into a third compartment, which is accessible by a second door. Electronic locks, which can be unlocked using a wireless signal or a key, secure the first and second doors.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a shell, which defines an interior space and which is configured to be mountable to a substrate. An upper opening and a lower opening are positioned in a front of the shell. A divider plate is hingedly engaged to the shell and defines an upper compartment and a lower compartment within the interior space. A first door is hingedly engaged by a lower edge to the shell so that the first door is positioned to selectively close the upper opening. The first door is hingedly engaged to the divider plate so that the divider plate is fixedly positioned substantially perpendicular to the front of the shell when the first door is open. The divider plate is hingable when the first door is closed. The upper compartment is configured for insertion of a parcel, positioning the divider plate to hinge upon closing of the first door so that the parcel drops from the upper compartment to the lower compartment. A second door is hingedly engaged to the shell so that the second door is positioned to selectively close the lower opening. Each of a pair of door locks, which are wireles sly actuatable, is engaged to a respective one of the first door and the second door and is configured to selectively engage the shell. The first door and the second door fixedly close the upper opening and the lower opening, respectively, to secure the parcel within the interior space. A user is positioned to selectively and wireles sly actuate and deactuate the door locks to secure and to retrieve the parcel, respectively.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of a secure parcel delivery assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an isometric perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 7 thereof, a new parcel delivery assembly embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7 , the secure parcel delivery assembly 10 generally comprises a shell 12, which defines an interior space 14 and which is configured to be mountable to a substrate. Each of a plurality of holes 16, which is positioned in a mounting plate 18, is configured for selective insertion of a respective article of mounting hardware (not shown) to secure the mounting plate 18 to a substantially horizontal substrate, such as concrete slab. A post 20 is engaged to and extends from the mounting plate 18. The post 20 is configured to selectively engage a bottom 22 of the shell 12 so that the shell 12 is mounted upon the post 20. The present invention also anticipates the post 20 being integral to the shell 12, or permanently affixed to the shell 12, such as by welds.

An alternative mounting option is enabled by a plurality of apertures 24, which is positioned in a back 26 of the shell 12, as shown in FIG. 6 . Each aperture 24 is configured for insertion of a respective item of mounting hardware (not shown) to secure the shell 12 to a substantially vertical surface, such as a wall. Each of a plurality of plugs 28, which are complementary to the apertures 24, is selectively insertable into a respective aperture 24 to sealably close the respective aperture 24. The plugs 28 would be used to seal the apertures 24 if a user elects to mount the shell 12 upon the post.

An upper opening 30 and a lower opening 32 are positioned in a front 34 of the shell 12. A divider plate 36 is hingedly engaged to the shell 12 and defines an upper compartment 38 and a lower compartment 40 within the interior space 14. A first door 42 is hingedly engaged by a lower edge 44 to the shell 12 so that the first door 42 is positioned to selectively close the upper opening 30. The first door 42 is hingedly engaged to the divider plate 36 so that the divider plate 36 is fixedly positioned substantially perpendicular to the front 34 of the shell 12 when the first door 42 is open, as shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 7 . The divider plate 36 is hingable when the first door 42 is closed. The upper compartment 38 is configured for insertion of a parcel, positioning the divider plate 36 to hinge upon closing of the first door 42 so that the parcel drops from the upper compartment 38 to the lower compartment 40.

A second door 46 is hingedly engaged to the shell 12 so that the second door 46 is positioned to selectively close the lower opening 32. As shown in FIG. 4 , the second door 46 is hingedly engage to the shell 12 by a respective one of opposed side edges 48 of the second door 46.

Each of a pair of door locks 50, which are wireles sly actuatable, is engaged to a respective one of the first door 42 and the second door 46 and is configured to selectively engage the shell 12. The door locks 50 also may be keyed so that the door locks 50 are unlockable with an associated door key (not shown). The first door 42 and the second door 46 fixedly close the upper opening 30 and the lower opening 32, respectively, to secure the parcel within the interior space 14. A user is positioned to selectively and wireles sly actuate and deactuate the door locks 50 to secure and to retrieve the parcel, respectively.

The pair of door locks 50 comprises a receiver 52, although the present invention also anticipates each door lock 50 comprising a receiver 52. Each door lock 50 comprises a housing 54, which defines an internal space 56. A battery 58, a latch 60, an actuator 62, and a switch 64 are engaged to the housing 54 and are positioned in the internal space 56. The latch 60 is selectively extensible from the housing 54. The actuator 62 is operationally engaged to both of the battery 58 and the latch 60. The switch 64 is operationally engaged to the battery 58 and the actuator 62. The switch 64 is communicatively engaged to the receiver 52. A strike 66 is engaged to the housing 54 and is positioned to selectively engage the latch 60. Upon receipt of a first signal and a second signal from the receiver 52, the switch 64 is positioned for operationally engaging the actuator 62 to the battery 58 for locking and unlocking, respectively, the first door 42 and the second door 46.

Each of a pair of handles 68 is engaged to a respective one of the first door 42 and the second door 46. The handle 68 is configured to be grasped in a hand of a user, positioning the user to hinge the respective one of the first door 42 and the second door 46. The handle 68 may comprise a recess 70, as shown in FIG. 1 , or other grasping means, such as, but not limited to, knobs, pulls, and the like.

A panel 72 is hingedly engaged to the shell 12 and defines a mail compartment 74 positioned in the interior space 14 above the upper compartment 38. A keyed lock 76 is engaged to the panel 72 and is configured to selectively engage the shell 12. When the keyed lock 76 is engaged to the shell 12, the panel 72 is fixedly positioned substantially perpendicular to the front 34 of the housing 54. When the keyed lock 76 is disengaged from the shell 12, the panel 72 is hingable to allow access to the mail compartment 74. A slot 78 is positioned in the front 34 of the shell 12 and opens into the mail compartment 74. The slot 78 is configured for insertion of mail into the mail compartment 74.

A mail flag 80 may be rotationally engaged to the shell 12 so that the mail flag 80 is selectively positionable in a substantially vertical position. The mail flag 80 is configured to indicate that outgoing mail is positioned in the mail compartment 74.

In use, the first door 42 is opened and a parcel is inserted into the upper compartment 38. The divider plate 36 hinges upon closing of the first door 42 and the parcel drops to the lower compartment 40. The user then can wirelessly actuate the door locks 50 to secure the parcel by sending the first signal from an electronic device, such as a smartphone, to the receiver 52. The parcel is accessible via the lower opening 32 upon deactuating of an associated door lock 50 upon receipt by the receiver 52 of a second signal sent from the electronic device.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

I claim:
 1. A secure parcel delivery assembly comprising: a shell defining an interior space and being configured for mounting to a substrate; an upper opening and a lower opening positioned in a front of the shell; a divider plate hingedly engaged to the shell defining an upper compartment and a lower compartment within the interior space; a first door hingedly engaged by a lower edge to the shell, such that the first door is positioned for selectively closing the upper opening, the first door being hingedly engaged to the divider plate, such that the divider plate is fixedly positioned substantially perpendicular to the front of the shell with the first door being open, and such that the divider plate is hingable with the first door being closed, wherein the upper compartment is configured for insertion of a parcel, positioning the divider plate for hinging upon closing of the first door, such that the parcel drops from the upper compartment to the lower compartment; a second door hingedly engaged to the shell, such that the second door is positioned for selectively closing the lower opening; and a pair of door locks, the door locks being wirelessly actuatable, each door lock being engaged to a respective one of the first door and the second door and being configured for selectively engaging the shell, such that the first door and the second door fixedly close the upper opening and the lower opening, respectively, for securing the parcel within the interior space, positioning a user for selectively wirelessly actuating and deactuating the door locks for securing and retrieving the parcel, respectively.
 2. The secure parcel delivery assembly of claim 1, further including: a mounting plate; a plurality of holes positioned in the mounting plate, wherein each hole is configured for selective insertion of a respective article of mounting hardware for securing the mounting plate to a substantially horizontal substrate; and a post engaged to and extending from the mounting plate, the post being configured for selectively engaging a bottom of the shell, such that the shell is mounted upon the post.
 3. The secure parcel delivery assembly of claim 1, further including a plurality of apertures positioned in a back of the shell, wherein each aperture is configured for insertion of a respective item of mounting hardware for securing the shell to a substantially vertical surface.
 4. The secure parcel delivery assembly of claim 3, further including a plurality of plugs, the plugs being complementary to the apertures, such that each plug is selectively insertable into a respective aperture for sealably closing the respective aperture.
 5. The secure parcel delivery assembly of claim 1, wherein the second door is hingedly engage to the shell by a respective one of opposed side edges of the second door.
 6. The secure parcel delivery assembly of claim 1, wherein: the pair of door locks comprises a receiver; and each door lock comprises: a housing defining an internal space, a battery engaged to the housing and positioned in the internal space, a latch engaged to the housing and positioned in the internal space, the latch being selectively extensible from the housing, a strike engaged to the housing and being positioned for selectively engaging the latch, an actuator engaged to the housing, positioned in the internal space, and operationally engaged to both of the battery and the latch, and a switch engaged to the housing and positioned in the internal space, the switch being operationally engaged to both to the battery and the actuator, the switch being communicatively engaged to the receiver, such that, upon receipt of a first signal and a second signal from the receiver, the switch is positioned for operationally engaging the actuator to the battery for locking and unlocking, respectively, the first door and the second door.
 7. The secure parcel delivery assembly of claim 1, further including a pair of handles, each handle being engaged to a respective one of the first door and the second door, wherein the handle is configured for grasping in a hand of a user, positioning the user for hinging the respective one of the first door and the second door.
 8. The secure parcel delivery assembly of claim 7, wherein the handle comprises a recess.
 9. The secure parcel delivery assembly of claim 1, further including: a panel hingedly engaged to the shell defining a mail compartment positioned in the interior space above the upper compartment; a keyed lock engaged to the panel and being configured for selectively engaging the shell, such that when the keyed lock is engaged to the shell the panel is fixedly positioned substantially perpendicular to the front of the housing, and such that when the keyed lock is disengaged from the shell the panel is hingable for allowing access to the mail compartment; and a slot positioned in the front of the shell and opening into the mail compartment, wherein the slot is configured for insertion of mail into the mail compartment.
 10. The secure parcel delivery assembly of claim 1, further including a mail flag rotationally engaged to the shell, such that the mail flag is selectively positionable in a substantially vertical position, wherein the mail flag is configured for indicating outgoing mail being positioned in the mail compartment.
 11. The secure parcel delivery assembly of claim 1, wherein the door locks are keyed, such that the door locks are unlockable with an associated door key.
 12. A secure parcel delivery assembly comprising: a shell defining an interior space and being configured for mounting to a substrate, a mounting plate; a plurality of holes positioned in the mounting plate, wherein each hole is configured for selective insertion of a respective article of mounting hardware for securing the mounting plate to a substantially horizontal substrate; a post engaged to and extending from the mounting plate, the post being configured for selectively engaging a bottom of the shell, such that the shell is mounted upon the post; a plurality of apertures positioned in a back of the shell, wherein each aperture is configured for insertion of a respective item of mounting hardware for securing the shell to a substantially vertical surface; a plurality of plugs, the plugs being complementary to the apertures, such that each plug is selectively insertable into a respective aperture for sealably closing the respective aperture; an upper opening and a lower opening positioned in a front of the shell; a divider plate hingedly engaged to the shell defining an upper compartment and a lower compartment within the interior space; a first door hingedly engaged by a lower edge to the shell, such that the first door is positioned for selectively closing the upper opening, the first door being hingedly engaged to the divider plate, such that the divider plate is fixedly positioned substantially perpendicular to the front of the shell with the first door being open, and such that the divider plate is hingable with the first door being closed, wherein the upper compartment is configured for insertion of a parcel, positioning the divider plate for hinging upon closing of the first door, such that the parcel drops from the upper compartment to the lower compartment; a second door hingedly engaged to the shell, such that the second door is positioned for selectively closing the lower opening, the second door being hingedly engage to the shell by a respective one of opposed side edges of the second door; a pair of door locks, the door locks being wirelessly actuatable, each door lock being engaged to a respective one of the first door and the second door and being configured for selectively engaging the shell, such that the first door and the second door fixedly close the upper opening and the lower opening, respectively, for securing the parcel within the interior space, positioning a user for selectively wirelessly actuating and deactuating the door locks for securing and retrieving the parcel, respectively, the door locks being keyed, such that the door locks are unlockable with an associated door key; the pair of door locks comprising a receiver, each door lock comprising: a housing defining an internal space, a battery engaged to the housing and positioned in the internal space, a latch engaged to the housing and positioned in the internal space, the latch being selectively extensible from the housing, a strike engaged to the housing and being positioned for selectively engaging the latch, an actuator engaged to the housing, positioned in the internal space, and operationally engaged to both of the battery and the latch, and a switch engaged to the housing and positioned in the internal space, the switch being operationally engaged to both to the battery and the actuator, the switch being communicatively engaged to the receiver, such that, upon receipt of a first signal and a second signal from the receiver, the switch is positioned for operationally engaging the actuator to the battery for locking and unlocking, respectively, the first door and the second door; a pair of handles, each handle being engaged to a respective one of the first door and the second door, wherein the handle is configured for grasping in a hand of a user, positioning the user for hinging the respective one of the first door and the second door, the handle comprising a recess; a panel hingedly engaged to the shell defining a mail compartment positioned in the interior space above the upper compartment; a keyed lock engaged to the panel and being configured for selectively engaging the shell, such that when the keyed lock is engaged to the shell the panel is fixedly positioned substantially perpendicular to the front of the housing, and such that when the keyed lock is disengaged from the shell the panel is hingable for allowing access to the mail compartment; a slot positioned in the front of the shell and opening into the mail compartment, wherein the slot is configured for insertion of mail into the mail compartment; and a mail flag rotationally engaged to the shell, such that the mail flag is selectively positionable in a substantially vertical position, wherein the mail flag is configured for indicating outgoing mail being positioned in the mail compartment. 